← All techniques

Reverse De La Riva Sweep

SweepOpen-guard sweepBelt: blue+Risk: moderateIBJJFADCCNo-GiSub-Only

The Reverse De La Riva (RDLR) sweep is a dynamic open guard attack that uses the inside hook and off-balancing grips to reverse a standing or kneeling opponent. This sweep is crucial for modern guard players to transition from bottom to top or directly to the back, especially against opponents who are adept at passing traditional open guards.

Start
Reverse DLR
End
Top / back
Prerequisites: Reverse De La Riva hook retention · Collar-and-sleeve grip (gi) or ankle control (no-gi) · Hip elevation from guard · Technical stand-up · Posting on the shoulder

Steps

  1. 1
    Establish the Reverse De La Riva hook
    From seated, thread your inside leg (closest to opponent) around their lead leg, hooking with your instep behind their knee or thigh. Keep your knee flared outward for strong tension.
  2. 2
    Secure the far ankle or pant grip
    With your outside hand, grip their far ankle (no-gi: C-grip at the Achilles; gi: pant grip). Anchor your elbow tight to your hip for control.
  3. 3
    Post your free foot on the mat
    Your outside foot posts on the mat, knee bent, ready to bridge or lift. This foot provides base and directional power for the sweep.
  4. 4
    Control their near-side sleeve or wrist
    With your inside hand, grip their near sleeve (gi) or wrist (no-gi), pinning it to your chest. This prevents them from basing out during the sweep.
  5. 5
    Elevate your hips and off-balance
    Bridge your hips upward and outward, pulling their far ankle toward you while extending your RDLR hook. Simultaneously, flare your knee outward to create kuzushi (off-balance) toward their far rear corner.
  6. 6
    Kick and rotate under
    As they start to fall, use your RDLR hook to lift and rotate under their base, pulling their ankle across your centerline. Rotate your body so your head points behind their posted leg.
  7. 7
    Technical stand-up or back take entry
    Release your ankle grip and post on your hand. Perform a technical stand-up to come on top, or, if their back is exposed, insert your bottom hook and chase the back.
  8. 8
    Secure top position or seatbelt
    Once on top, establish a dominant knee-on-belly or side control, or if taking the back, secure a seatbelt grip and second hook for control.

Key details most people miss

  • The RDLR hook must maintain outward knee flare; collapsing the knee loses control and sweep leverage.
  • Timing the sleeve/wrist pull with the hip bridge is essential to prevent opponent from posting.
  • Rotating your hips under their base, not just lifting, increases sweep efficiency and exposes their back.
  • The technical stand-up should be explosive and angled toward their far hip to prevent re-guarding.

Common mistakes

  • Letting the RDLR hook slip low on their calf allows them to step out and disengage.
  • Failing to grip the far ankle tightly lets the opponent widen their base and resist the sweep.
  • Not pulling the sleeve/wrist across your centerline allows them to post and kill the sweep.
  • Attempting to sweep without hip elevation results in weak kuzushi and stalled movement.

Counters & responses

They try: Opponent posts their free hand to base out during sweep
You do: Switch to a triangle or omoplata by threading your leg over their posted arm as they base.
They try: Opponent steps their far leg back to widen base
You do: Transition to sit-up guard or single leg X by following their retreat and re-hooking.
They try: Opponent drops their weight onto your RDLR hook to pin it
You do: Reinforce your knee flare and invert under for a kiss of the dragon back take.
They try: Opponent grips your pants or ankle to immobilize your hook
You do: Break their grip by circling your foot and reestablishing inside position before re-attacking.

Drill prescription

6 rounds × 2 min; alternating roles; 50% resistance; goal: 5 clean sweeps per round, measured by achieving top or back control within 10 seconds of sweep initiation.

How the masters teach it

Videos are still being curated for this technique. AI suggests these instructors:
Lucas Lepri — Emphasizes precise sleeve and pant grips with seamless transitions to back takes from RDLR sweep.Rafael Mendes — Integrates RDLR sweeps into a chain with berimbolo and crab ride, focusing on fluid inversion.Leandro Lo — Utilizes explosive hip elevation and technical stand-up to convert RDLR sweeps directly into passing.Mikey Musumeci — Details micro-adjustments in hook angle and grip switching to counter modern passing defenses.
#open-guard#reverse-de-la-riva#sweep#gi#no-gi#back-entry#dynamic#lightweight-friendly#competition#modern-guard